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In 2004, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was created in the EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER).  OEM integrates the functions of the former Superfund Emergency Response Program, Oil Spill Prevention Program, and Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office.

Our Mission

To ensure that this nation is better prepared for environmental emergencies, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works with other EPA partners, federal agencies, state and local response agencies, and industry to prevent accidents as well as maintain superior response capabilities. OEM's overall mission is to provide national leadership to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health and environmental emergencies. This is facilitated through partnerships, joint strategy development, technology development and deployment, and training and exercises.

How We Are Organized

 

National Decontamination Team (NDT), located in Cincinnati, Ohio, provides expertise and support to On-Scene Coordinators (OSC) regarding the decontamination of buildings or other structures in the event of an incident involving releases of radiological, biological, or chemical contaminants.

Business Operations Center (BOC) is responsible for program and resource management functions, including budgetary planning, human resources, contracts and grants, accountability, and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). BOC directs the formulation and execution of annual budgets, and coordinates activities across OEM.

Homeland Security Laboratory Response Center (HSLRC) has a mission to build upon existing networks and infrastructure to develop a national Environmental Laboratory Response Network (eLRN) to meet the nation’s needs for chemical, biological, or radiological analyses associated with Weapons of Mass Destruction. The HSLRC is responsible for working with other federal and state agencies to leverage resources and build necessary environmental laboratory capability and capacity to meet EPA’s responsibilities for surveillance, response, and recovery from incidents involving the release of chemical, biological, or radiological agents.

Regulation and Policy Development Division (RPDD) is OEM’s policy and technical arm. RPDD develops policy, technical approaches and regulations required by various environmental, safety and accident prevention, preparedness and response statutes.

National Planning and Preparedness Division (NPPD) is responsible for ensuring national EPA readiness to respond to incidents involving hazardous chemicals, oil, and biological/radiological contamination resulting from terrorist attacks or accidents. NPPD works closely with EPA’s Office of Homeland Security.

Program Operations and Coordination Division (POCD) provides coordination and oversight for all OEM operational programs. Regional Coordinators provide programmatic expertise, policy interpretation, response strategies and general support to the Regional offices. POCD personnel provide a 24/7 watch officer service, serve as Regional points of contact for expertise and support, serve as advocates for Regional needs, and lead the Emergency Response Peer Support Team, which provides stress management and trauma mitigation assistance to EPA's emergency responders.

Evaluation and Communication Division (ECD) coordinates strategic planning, program evaluation and communication. ECD coordinates OEM work planning, develops lessons learned from exercises and incidents, coordinates outreach, and keeps the OEM Web site up-to-date.

For more information about EPA's emergency management activities and programs, please contact EPA headquarters or the Regional Emergency Management Programs for one of our ten regions.